Rep. Mark Tedford

Maddy summaryHB 2949 establishes new staff-to-child ratio requirements for licensed child care centers in Oklahoma. It mandates specific ratios: one staff member for every five infants (birth to 11 months), one for every six toddlers (12-23 months), and one for every seven preschoolers (24-47 months). The bill requires child care facilities to follow these ratios starting November 1, 2026, and directs the Department of Human Services to update administrative rules to align with the new standards. This directly affects all licensed child care centers operating in Oklahoma.

Maddy summaryHB 2957 requires Oklahoma insurers to provide proof of loss forms to policyholders upon written request and to issue a written settlement offer within 60 days of receiving the completed form. For most insurance claims, if an insured wins a court case and the award exceeds the insurer’s written offer, they may receive 15% annual interest on the amount owed and recover attorney fees. However, the bill specifically excludes property insurance claims from these benefits, meaning no interest or attorney fees can be awarded in such cases. The law will take effect on November 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1401 modifies Oklahoma's insurance premium tax rates, reducing the rate from 2.25% to 1.96% effective July 1, 2026, for most insurers. It excludes annuity contract payments and Medicaid-related fees from taxable premiums, clarifying these are no longer subject to the tax. The bill also specifies that life insurance policies covering employees (up to $100,000) will be taxed at the reduced rate starting July 2026, with a small additional tax on amounts exceeding that threshold. Proceeds from these taxes for Medicaid-related policies must be deposited into the Medicaid Health Improvement Revolving Fund, bypassing standard state fund apportionment rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1084 bans insurance companies or contractors from soliciting or accepting assignments of post-loss benefits (like repair costs) for auto, home, or business property insurance claims. It declares such agreements void and unenforceable, except for mortgagees, federally insured lenders, or liability coverage. Violating this law is treated as an unfair trade practice under Oklahoma law, subjecting violators to standard penalties. The bill explicitly allows attorneys to collect fees for claim-related work and permits insureds to directly pay for covered services or materials.

Maddy summaryHB 1084 prohibits insurance companies from requiring policyholders to assign their benefits to contractors for certain services, such as property repairs after a claim. This directly affects homeowners and renters who use insurance for property damage, as well as contractors who previously relied on these assignments. The bill bans specific practices where insurers demand that policyholders transfer their claim payments to contractors before repairs are completed. It becomes effective immediately upon enactment (May 29, 2025), clarifying that such assignments are not permitted under the law.

Maddy summaryHB 1160 amends Oklahoma's insurance guaranty association law to clarify its purpose, scope, and operations. It updates the association's role in paying covered claims when property/casualty insurers become insolvent, explicitly excluding life, health, government-backed, and certain other insurance types from coverage. The bill allows the association to join specified organizations and clarifies that some operational records are not public (with limited exceptions). These changes directly affect Oklahoma insurers required to join the association and policyholders whose claims might be covered under the guaranty system.

Maddy summaryHB 1160 amends Oklahoma's Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association Act to clarify how the Association handles claims when insurers become insolvent. It defines "covered claims" (including property damage claims in Oklahoma or resident policyholders), specifies exclusions (like punitive damages or reinsurance), and allows the Association to join certain organizations. The bill also clarifies that Association records are not public and modifies the Association's powers and duties under Sections 2002, 2003, and 2004 of the Oklahoma Insurance Code. This law, enacted without the Governor's signature on May 28, 2025, directly affects Oklahoma property/casualty insurance policyholders whose insurer fails.

Maddy summarySB 641 creates Oklahoma's Motor Vehicle Consumer Protection Act, setting limits on fees charged by auto body repair shops to vehicle owners and insurance companies. It caps administrative charges (like communication, file creation, and software fees) at 4 hours per day based on the market labor rate, and sets maximum daily storage fees: $39 for standard vehicles (or $78 for lithium-ion battery vehicles) for the first 10 days, rising to $75 ($156 for battery vehicles) after day 10 if insurance approval is delayed. Shops must provide written invoices to insurers within 8 business hours. The law directly affects repair shops, insurers, and vehicle owners by standardizing and limiting these specific costs. It takes effect November 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 641 creates Oklahoma's Motor Vehicle Consumer Protection Act, setting limits on fees for auto body repair shops handling vehicles declared a total loss by insurance. It caps administrative fees (like file creation or communication charges) at the hourly market labor rate - no more than four hours per vehicle - and sets maximum daily storage fees at $39 for standard vehicles ($78 for lithium-ion battery vehicles with fire/damage) for the first 10 days, rising to $75 ($156) after day 10 if insurance delays approval. Repair shops must provide written invoices to insurers within 8 business hours and cannot charge more than these set rates. The law directly affects auto body repair shops, insurance companies, and vehicle owners by preventing excessive fees for storage and administrative services.

Maddy summarySB 434 increases the maximum combined contribution rate for Oklahoma county employees' retirement systems from 18.5% to 22% of an employee's monthly compensation. This change directly affects county employees participating in retirement funds, allowing employers and employees to collectively contribute up to 22% of pay toward their retirement savings. The bill amends existing law to set this new 22% cap, effective July 1, 2025, and allows counties to adjust employer/employee contribution splits as long as the total remains at 22%. The policy change simplifies retirement funding parameters without altering benefit calculations.